Trump Selects RFK Jr. as His Choice to Head the Department of Health and Human Services
President-elect Donald Trump has announced plans to appoint Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as the head of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This notable choice would position the well-known vaccine skeptic in charge of leading key health agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The nomination was revealed by Trump in a post on Truth Social on Thursday afternoon.
“For far too long, the American public has suffered under the industrial food system and pharmaceutical companies that have engaged in deception and misinformation regarding public health,” Trump stated. “Mr. Kennedy will restore integrity to these agencies, aiming to return them to the practices of exemplary scientific research and transparency, addressing the chronic disease issue, and making America both great and healthy again!”
A former Democrat now running as an independent presidential candidate, Kennedy previously voiced his support for Trump after ending his own campaign. During rallies, Trump emphasized his plan to allow Kennedy to “go wild” in healthcare, showing support for Kennedy’s approach to reform the food and drug sectors he has long criticized.
For numerous years, Kennedy has been an outspoken opponent of widely accepted vaccines for infectious diseases, referencing debunked connections to autism and other health issues. His appointment to lead an agency managing both the FDA, responsible for vaccine approvals, and the CDC, which offers vaccine usage recommendations, is expected to raise significant concerns among public health authorities.
The announcement of Kennedy’s nomination, initially reported by Politico before the stock market closed, resulted in a noticeable drop in vaccine manufacturer stocks such as Pfizer, Moderna, and GSK. The XBI, an ETF that tracks the biotechnology industry, also experienced declines.
Additionally, Kennedy has advocated for removing fluoride from public water sources, challenging a public health measure credited with enhancing American dental health.
Recently, Kennedy claimed that Trump intends for him to remove corruption from the FDA and other regulatory entities, despite providing no supporting evidence. In various posts on X, he mentioned aiming to put an end to the “FDA’s war on public health,” alleging what he calls the agency’s “aggressive suppression” of stem cell therapies, raw milk, nutraceuticals, and hydroxychloroquine for treating COVID-19.
Furthermore, Kennedy has indicated a goal to transform the agency and its personnel, stating in a recent interview that various “entire departments” at the agency “need to be eliminated.”
“We are presented with a unique opportunity to engage the brightest minds in science, medicine, industry, and government to tackle the chronic disease crisis,” Kennedy remarked in a statement on X. “I am eager to collaborate with the over 80,000 HHS employees to liberate these agencies from corporate interference, enabling them to fulfill their mission to ensure Americans regain their status as the healthiest population in the world.”
Trump’s announcement to appoint Kennedy follows his earlier nominations of other controversial figures for key roles, such as former Florida Representative Matt Gaetz as attorney general and Fox News host Peter Hegseth as secretary of defense.
It is important to note that cabinet nominations, including the HHS secretary, require confirmation from a majority of the Senate. If confirmed, Kennedy would replace Xavier Becerra, the current head under President Joe Biden. With a projected Republican majority of 53 senators, Kennedy could afford to lose only three Republican votes, assuming unanimous opposition from Democrats.
Editor’s note: This article has been updated with additional details, including comments from Kennedy.